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Future is bright for Portsoy community project


By SPP Reporter



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THE long-term future of Portsoy Church Hall has been secured with an extensive renovation set to begin.

The major project to repair and redevelop the venue, which will be used by the Church of Scotland and the wider community, will commence at the beginning of September.

The scheme to create a church centre and community hall in the heart of the town has been in planning for more than seven years.

It received a boost earlier this year when £32,000 was awarded to the project through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The remainder of the around £600,000 cost has been met through fundraising and other grant awards.

Project co-ordinator Ian Whewell said: "This is a really exciting time for both Portsoy Church and the community in the area.

"The work will provide a resource with modern facilities fit for the 21st century and secure the long-term future of this beautiful historic building."

The hall is used for church services, events and extensively by many community and other groups.

The historic building dating from 1815 is the "Auld Kirk" the original Church of Scotland, which was turned into a church hall in the 1950s when the two Church of Scotland churches in the town amalgamated.

The building requires extensive repairs and maintenance work and the internal facilities are in need of refurbishment.

It was therefore decided that the opportunity should be taken to redevelop the building to improve the facilities and turn it into a modern facility which could be used both as the main place of worship for the congregation and also continue as a community facility.

It will retain the character of the landmark heritage building with its historic clock tower but to the rear will be constructed a much-enlarged extension with a meeting space, a large commercial kitchen capable of catering a full range of events and modern upgraded toilet facilities.

In the main hall area the stage will be removed increasing the size of the usable space while retaining the historic ceiling. Insulation and heating will be upgraded and modernised.

Part of the meeting room will be used as a permanent exhibition of artefacts and information about the religious history of Portsoy, Fordyce and the surrounding area.

Fundraising has been continuing for the last four years and the project has had support from the local community.

Donations and grants have been received from a number of local organisations and businesses as well as church members. Larger grants have been obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland for the repair work and heritage exhibition, the Aberdeenshire Leader fund for the main extension work and Viridor Credits for the underfloor heating system.

Fundraising and the appeal for

financial assistance continues, however, as loans have been taken out to

enable the work to commence and these will have to be repaid.

Anyone who wants to help with the project can contact the Portsoy Church treasurer.

Mr Whewell added: "Once completed the building will provide a combined worship and community space fit for the 21st century and beyond with one of the largest halls and range of facilities in the area, and should provide enormous benefit to the church and the local community.

"It is hoped that the permanent heritage exhibition will be an additional attraction for tourists to the area."

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson (left) welcomed the Heritage Lottery Award earlier this year, which totalled £32,500.

Mr Stevenson said: "I am delighted for the volunteers involved in this very worthwhile project that they have been successful in their bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"The Heritage Lottery Fund is an important source of funding for local groups and can help protect some of our older iconic buildings which still serve their community and are very much part of the fabric of village life, such as Portsoy Church Hall."

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